The fans of the popular comedy franchise Welcome were eagerly waiting for the third instalment, titled Welcome to the Jungle, which is slated to release on Christmas 2024.
However, fans were in for a shock when they learned that Anil Kapoor, who played the hilarious character of Majnu Bhai in the previous two films, will not be returning for Welcome 3.
Anil Kapoor’s Exit From ‘Welcome To The Jungle’
It was reported earlier that the reason behind Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar‘s exit is a disagreement over financial matters between the actors and the producer, they said “It’s a case of monetary disagreements between the duo and the producer.” This has led to the decision of introducing Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi in their respective roles, adding a fresh charm to the popular franchise.
But now we have learnt more details that Anil Kapoor had demanded Rs. 18 crores to act in the film.
“There can’t be Welcome without Anil Kapoor and Nana Patekar. They were first offered the film, but the conversation soon fell through. Producer Firoz Nadiadwala got the shock of his life when Anil Kapoor demanded Rs. 18 crores to act in the film,” a trade source revealed another publication.
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Reportedly, Firoz tried to negotiate with Anil Kapoor, but the latter was adamant about the amount that was demanded. “Anil felt that Welcome is Welcome because of Majnu and the film will just get wider in the third part with the addition of Akshay Kumar. He felt that he deserved the money as the third part is a potential Rs. 300 crore film at India Box Office and even he deserved the amount he asked for. He tried to put forth his point, but when Firoz refused, he willingly backed out of the film. Akshay Kumar also tried to intervene and get Anil on board, but Anil was stuck on getting Rs. 18 crores,” the trade source further added.
“Uday and Majnu are like Pav and Bhaji. There is no fun to eat either Pav or Bhaji and it makes sense only to have both components together. Once Anil backed out, Nana also took a backseat. Akshay and Firoz then decided to bring in Munna and Circuit in Welcome 3,” the trade source added.
Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi Replace Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar
With Anil Kapoor out of the picture, the makers of Welcome 3 had to look for a suitable replacement for his role. They also had to find a new actor for the role of Uday Bhai, which was played by Nana Patekar in the previous films. Nana Patekar had also opted out of ‘Welcome To The Jungle‘ due to personal reasons.
The producer Firoz Nadiadwala then roped in Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi to play the notorious gangsters Majnu and Uday in Welcome 3. The duo have already shown their chemistry as Munna and Circuit in the Munna Bhai series and are expected to bring a fresh twist to the franchise.
Arshad Warsi confirmed his involvement in Welcome 3 in an interview with a publication. He said, “The scale of Welcome 3: the cost, the climax, is unreal. It is an insanely larger-than-life theatrical film which I will be a part of. It has me, Akshay Kumar, Sanju (Sanjay Dutt), Paresh Rawal and lots of other people.”
“We start shooting in January. It is one of those films that tell you the truth of how things run in the world, good versus bad,” he added.
Welcome To The Jungle: The Cast And Crew
Apart from Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, ‘Welcome To The Jungle‘ will also feature Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, and Suniel Shetty in pivotal roles. The film will be directed by Ahmed Khan, who has previously helmed films like Baaghi 2 and Baaghi 3. The film will be shot in exotic locations like Thailand, South Africa, and Mauritius. The film will also have some high-octane action sequences and comedy scenes that will entertain the audience.
Welcome 3 is expected to be a family entertainer that will appeal to all age groups. The film will also pay tribute to late actor Feroz Khan, who played RDX Bhai in the first Welcome movie. The film will release on Christmas 2024 and will clash with Salman Khan’s next action film with Karan Johar directed by Vishnu Vardhan, if reports are to be believed.
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